(Iowa City, IA) — An eighth grader from Iowa City is celebrating a catch most anglers only dream about. Fourteen-year-old Benjamin Stong reeled in a 68-pound flathead catfish from the Iowa River on Wednesday morning – just before heading to school. After weighing the fish and realizing how rare the size was, Stong released it back into the water.
The Iowa DNR says the state record flathead catfish is 81 pounds, caught in 1958.
According to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, ten different species of catfish inhabit the state’s lakes, rivers, and streams. These unique fish are easily identified by their rounded, scaleless bodies and flattened bellies, which help them navigate along the bottoms of waterways. One of the most distinctive features of catfish is the eight barbels—often called “whiskers”—that surround their mouths. These sensitive feelers help them detect food in murky waters. In addition, catfish have strong, sharp spines located where their dorsal and pectoral fins meet, which provide defense against predators.
